Cushion step tread for automobiles



Dec. 23; 1930. G. E. wHl'rLoCK 1,785,755

CUSHION STEP TREAD FOR AUTOMOBILESA Filed June 3, 1929 mjg @www PatentedDec. 23, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE E. WHITLOCK, OF TOLEDO,OHIO, ASSIGNOR T THE CITY AUTO STAMPING COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ACORPORATION OF OHIO CUSHIONY STEP TREAD non AUTOMOBILES Application led.Tune 3, 1929.

of the tread and which is partially embedded in the composition of whicht-he cushioning material is formed, the protruding portions of thedevices being formed in such a manner that they may be readily securedto the supy porting sheet material.

VThe invention may be contained in treads of different forms and, toillustrate a practical application of the invention, I have selected atread containing the invention as an example of such structures,andshall describe it hereinafter. The tread selected is shown in theaccompanying drawing.

Fig. ,l is a perspective view of the running board of an automobile.Fig. 2 is a view of a part of a longitudinal section takensubstantially, along the plane of the line 2-2 indicated in Fig. l@ Fig.3 is a View of a ytransverse section taken along the plane of the line3--3 indicated in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view of a section of one of theinterlocking devices used for securing the cushion tread to the runningboard.

'Ihe runningboard l of the automobile 2 is formed of sheet metal, itbeing provided with suitable looped central portions 3 that extendlengthwise the running board and form reenforcements for sustaining anyordinary load that may be placed on'the surface of the running board.The sheet metal of which the running board is formed is provided with aplurality of holes l that are distributed throughout the area of the topof the running board and aiord a means for securing the sheet 5 of thecushioning material.

The cushioning material 5 may be formed of any suitable compositioncommonly used for floor covering. It is provided with a plurality ofrivets, such as the eyelets 10, having portions thereof' embedded Withinthe Serial No. 367,847.

substantially fill the interior of the eyelets and form thereby a rigidinterlock as between the sheet material 5 and the eyelets l0. Theprotruding parts l2 oi the eyelets are inserted in the openings 4 andthe ends are flanged over the sheet metal of the running board l, as at13, so as to securely fasten the eyelets to the running board and,consequently, to securely fasten the sheet 5 to the top of the runningboard.

I claim:

l. In a tread for sheet metal supporting members, a cushioning materialin sheet form, a plurality of eyelets for securing the sheet material tothe sheet metal, the eyelets havingflanged portions embedded within thecushioning material and flanged portions extending through the sheetmetal and engaging the sheet metal on the side opposite to that on whichthe sheet material is located,

the openings of the eyelets substantially filled i with the compositionof the sheet material for interlocking the eyelets with the sheetmaterial.

Q. In a tread for sheet metal supporting members, a cushioning materialin sheet form, a plurality of rivets for securing the sheet material tothe sheet metal, the rivets having hollow central chambers in which thecushioning' material is located, and having flanged portions embodiedwithin the cushioning material and flanged portions engaging the sheetmetal on the side opposite to that on which the sheet material islocated.

In witness whereof I'have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

GEORGEE. VVI'IITLOCK.

